Joy in Serving God: Why Happiness Is the Heart of Every Mitzvah

1. Joy in Serving God Is a Torah Commandment

According to the Rambam (Maimonides), Rabbeinu Bachya, and other great sages, joy in serving God is not optional — it is a Torah obligation. They explain that the many curses listed in Devarim 28 come upon those who served God without joy: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart when you had everything in abundance.” (Devarim 28:47)

The Torah is teaching that all suffering, is a result of serving God without happiness.

2. Maimonides and Rabbeinu Bachya on the Command to Rejoice

The Rambam writes: “The joy a person experiences in performing a mitzvah and in loving God who commanded it — that joy is a great act of divine service. Whoever withholds himself from this joy deserves punishment, as it says: ‘Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy.’” (Laws of Lulav 8:15)

Rabbeinu Bachya adds: “The verse blames one who serves God without joy, for a person is obligated to rejoice while performing mitzvot — the joy itself is an independent mitzvah.” (Parashat Ki Tavo)

3. The Arizal: Rejoice More Than If You Found Endless Gold

The holy Arizal taught: “When fulfilling a mitzvah, learning Torah, or praying, a person must be joyful and glad of heart — even more than if he had found an immense treasure of gold.” (Sha’ar Ruach HaKodesh, p. 6b)

4. True Joy Reflects a Wholehearted Connection to God

The Sefer HaMiddot teaches: “What pleasure can a master have if his servant serves him without joy? God gave us Torah and mitzvot to bring us to eternal delight — so how can one serve Him without great happiness for such a gift?” (Sefer HaMiddot, Joy 1)

5. Joy Leads to Divine Connection and Spiritual Insight

The Shelah HaKadosh writes: “Joy in performing mitzvot creates a stronger attachment (deveikut) to God. The more one rejoices, the more his soul cleaves to the Divine.”

Rabbi Yehuda Ashkenazi revealed that his ability to access wisdom and Ruach HaKodesh (divine inspiration) came as a reward for always being exceedingly joyful when performing mitzvot.

Similarly, the Arizal promises in Sha’ar HaMitzvot that one who maintains this joy constantly “will surely merit the spirit of holiness.”

6. Prayer Must Come from Joy — Never from Sadness

The Talmud says explicitly: “One should not stand to pray out of sadness or laziness, but only from the joy of a mitzvah.” (Berachot 31a)

Rabbi Shmuel Vital, in his introduction to Sha’ar HaKavanot, warns: “A person must never pray in sadness. If he does, his soul cannot receive the divine light that descends during prayer — and great spiritual harm results from his sadness.”

7. The Pele Yoetz: Rejoice in Every Mitzvah You Do

The Pele Yoetz writes under the entry “Joy”: “How good and pleasant it is for Israel to rejoice in their Maker! One should feel more joy over each mitzvah than if he had found a great treasure.
Especially during prayer, one must be extremely joyful. Likewise, when reciting Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals), the Zohar greatly emphasizes saying it with joy — even suggesting eating foods that gladden the heart to bless God with happiness.”

8. Reb Nachman’s Path to Joy: Focus on the Good Within You

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov offers a powerful tool to awaken joy, based on the verse: “I will sing to my God while I still exist (be’odi).” (Tehillim 146:2)

He explains: “Before praying, focus on your ‘be’odi’ — what remains good within you. Recall one mitzvah or good deed you have done, however small, and rejoice in it. From this awareness of your inner goodness, sing and praise God with genuine joy.”

This self-reflection transforms even a heavy heart into one filled with gratitude and song.

9. Act Joyful — and True Joy Will Follow

Rebbe Nachman adds another profound teaching (Sichot HaRan 74): “If a person’s mind is troubled and he cannot feel joy, let him behave as though he were happy — force a smile, move with energy. Even if the joy is not yet in his heart, by acting joyful he will eventually awaken real happiness within. This is a great secret for all spiritual growth: start by acting the way you wish to feel — and in time, your heart will follow.”

10. Orchot Tzaddikim: The Joyful Servant Receives a Thousandfold Reward

The classic ethical work Orchot Tzaddikim teaches: “One who performs mitzvot with joy receives a reward a thousand times greater than one who performs them as a burden. Such a person succeeds in all his ways; the Holy One, blessed be He, sends upon him a spirit of holiness, and his heart rejoices with love for God.” (Gate of Joy)